Given that the NCAA allows only 18 scholarships for a Division I hockey team, carrying three scholarship goalies is one more than necessary, or needed, for most programs.

But not if you’re the Denver Pioneers, a.k.a. Goaltending U.

Sophomore Juho “Jussi” Olkinuora, who joined DU as a walk-on in July 2011, is now the team’s top goalie. The 22-year-old Finn has continually outplayed senior Adam Murray and junior Sam Brittain since agreeing to serve as Murray’s backup when Brittain underwent major knee surgery after his sensational freshman season in 2010-11.

Olkinuora’s 1.92 goals-against average and .934 save percentage are No. 1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association among goalies with more than 300 minutes, and second overall, statistics that belie DU’s recent team struggles.

“I’m actually not that surprised. I would not have come here if I thought I didn’t have a chance to compete and get some games my first year,” Olkinuora said. “This year, my second year, was the year I was most concerned about because ‘Britts’ came back and it’s Adam’s senior year. But things have gone well.”

Olkinuora played a team-high 22 games last season and produced a team-best 2.18 GAA. This season, he’s the only reason the reeling Pioneers are tied for second in the WCHA at the holiday break. After a 9-1 start, which vaulted it to a No. 2 national ranking, DU is mired in a 0-5-3 slide. It would probably be an eight-game losing streak if it weren’t for Olkinuora, who is 0-1-3 but allowed just six goals in his four starts during that stretch. In those four games, the Pioneers produced only five goals.

“Without him, I’m willing to bet we lose those games,” captain Paul Phillips said of the three overtime ties that Olkinuora recently backstopped, including 1-1 against Wisconsin and 2-2 at North Dakota. “He’s been phenomenal.”

No more mop-up duty

DU coach George Gwozdecky dubs Olkinuora the best midsummer addition in his 19 years with the program. The Pioneers were scrambling for a capable backup in the summer of 2011 after Brittain, the reigning Keith Magnuson Award winner as DU’s best defensive player, required reconstructive knee surgery.

“Did we think the guy we brought in was going to develop into one of the top goaltenders in the WCHA? No. We had no expectation that would ever happen,” Gwozdecky said. “I mean, we had no scholarship money. It’s July, and within a month we had to get him admitted to the school. And his season is over, so we’re going off videotape and connections. We had no expectation other than a capable backup who could come in for mop-up duty or whatever.

“I don’t want to say we hit the lottery, but we’re very fortunate.”

Murray was considered America’s best young goalie at age 15 and Brittain, a Canadian, is an NHL draft pick of the Florida Panthers. But the undrafted and previously unwanted Olkinuora has started the opening game of the past five two-game weekends and could be on the verge of starting back-to-back. Murray absorbed Saturday’s 5-1 loss at Bemidji State, and Brittain didn’t play in the series after going 0-3 and allowing 12 goals in his previous three starts.

“We’re definitely going to have a No. 1 (goalie) or a tandem,” Gwozdecky said. “Whether Jussi has that, or Sam has that, has not been determined. But if you had to make the decision right now, you’d certainly say Jussi is ahead of the other two guys.”

Following his first and only year in the United States, the Helsinki-born Olkinuora had no NCAA offers after completing a one-year, junior-A career in Sioux Falls, S.D. His arrival at DU coincided with the goaltending coach tenure of David Lassonde, the former associate head coach at New Hampshire who is serving as goaltending coach for the U.S. world junior team playing in the World Junior Championship in Russia.

“In juniors I didn’t have a goalie coach, and even though a lot of people say Finland develops the best goalies, I think I’ve really developed under Coach Lassonde. And if he wasn’t around, I’d be the same goalie as I was in juniors,” said Olkinuora, who was headed back to Finland to play pro hockey when DU called.

Digital media major

DU didn’t have any type of scholarship for Olkinuora (some players get a portion of their tuition paid for), and even though he could have attended college for free in Finland after his hockey career, he chose to sign up for a $45,000 student loan and serve as Murray’s backup while Brittain recovered from surgery.

Murray injured his groin early last season and Olkinuora excelled, ultimately earning a scholarship after forwards Drew Shore, Jason Zucker and Beau Bennett left school early in April to sign NHL contracts. Having three scholarship goalies and all seven defensemen on full-ride scholarships is one reason DU lacks depth at forward, with just 10 playing last weekend.

“I wanted to be here. I wanted to go to college in the States,” Olkinuora said. “I wanted an opportunity and I heard some guys would maybe sign (NHL deals) early, and that would open some space.”

The charismatic Olkinuora is majoring in digital media studies. He loves social media. His Twitter handle is @dojussime, which translated is also a question: Do you see me?

“I strive to keep the goaltender’s reputation reasonable, because I’ve seen all kinds of wackos and played with a lot of them,” Olkinuora said. “Hopefully the guys don’t think I’m a weirdo, but I’ve heard both.”

He was issued a one-game suspension and chipped a tooth after throwing punches at the conclusion of a 6-5 win at archrival Colorado College on Nov. 16, the last time DU won.

“He’s a guy’s guy, a team guy. Every day you’re happy to see him and he’s going to say something funny, no matter the situation,” Phillips said. “He’s always lighthearted, but when it’s game time he’s a competitor and he’ll do whatever for his teammates — whether it’s fight someone for CC or come up with a huge save.”

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